Lurking....I personally feel it's entirely up to you. As long as the baby is full term and you're both healthy in the end, that's what really matters.

I've decided to go with a repeat c-section for this baby and getting to pick the birthday is the highlight of my decision. C-sections are scheduled for just before your baby and body are ready to do it on it's own to avoid stressing your uterus and risking a tear and so that everyone can schedule in the surgery instead of needing to round up people at the last minute. The baby is full term by 37 weeks, so a c-section at 39 weeks doesn't hurt the baby.

Doing a VBAC is MUCH safer for both you and baby than doing a planned C-Section. The recovery is faster, there's less chance of infection, etc. There's nothing "wrong" with choosing the date for your baby to be born, but if you have no other medical reason for having a C-Section other than the fact that you've had one before, then I would highly recommend doing a VBAC instead. In terms of "risking a tear", unless you have a classical vertical incision, that shouldn't even be in your vocabulary. It is so rare for someone with a low transverse cut to have a tear that you would find the same number of first-time mothers with no prior C-Sections tearing.

I'm attempting a VBAC with DD. DS was a c-section, last minute c-section and it was TERRIBLE. He's four and a half years old, and I've spent a lot of time asking my doctor the same questions a million times and he's offered me SO much reassurance. I have to deliver an hour and a half away to do this VBAC and I'm 100% sure it's what I wan tto do. I don't think c-sections should be considered unless there's a medical concern or reason behind it. A baby may be considered full term at 37 weeks, but that does NOT mean that baby is ready to be born. I was induced at 37.5 weeks, and had DS two days later after they ruptured my membranes and made me push for 9 hours. He was in the NICU for 6 days, he wasn't ready to be born yet. I am really looking forward to a natural laboring process. I have read in several places that a VBAC is safe, but shouldn't be attempted if you're going to induce because of the stress and strain that places on the body.

I will not induce. I will not allow any form of induction -- baby will come when she is ready. This is MY body and MY baby, and I refuse to have someone tell me otherwise. My doctor is behind me 100%, he would rather perform a VBAC than see a repeated c-section. Find a doctor you're really confident in...I did my research on mine before choosing him and the hospital, and I couldn't have made a better choice.

It's not wrong to choose the date, but it's not natural either. It depends on you, and your wishes -- no one elses. Your business is your business. If you want a more natural delivery (like what I've decided) then let it happen when it happens, just be prepared for all possibilities Like PP said, uterine rupture is rare -- with the proper medical team (which is mandatory if you choose to deliver VBAC PER hospital policy) then you can breathe easier -- they are equipped for that situation.

Actually, going a week earlier can be a lifesaver. I had a planned c-section at 39 weeks and will again soon. I have heard from my doc that cord issues and other problems can happen as you progress past 37 weeks so even going a week earlier can help. The AMA says 39 weeks is find for a c-section and scheduling it around your schedule relieves stress and allows you to prepare which helps the baby and makes the process less hectic.

Just out of curiosity, why were were you induced at 37.5 weeks? I know there had to be a reason- I'm just curious

I'm attempting a VBAC this time around. I had DD1 vaginally 8 days early. My water broke 9 days early, and they had to start an induction 12.5 hours later. DD2 was an unplanned c-section 11 days early. I'd been in labor for days (steady contractions every 3-4 minutes), but wasn't progressing. It started to get really bad the night before she was born, and we headed in. The doctor on call (the next morning) discovered she was a footling breech and it was too late to attempt a version. If they'd just listened to me, they could've tried weeks earlier! I'm hoping no induction/c-section is necessary with this one. I'm also hoping distance doesn't get in the way- I'm 2 hours from the nearest hospital.

It's completely up to you. I hated the recovery of a c-section vs the recovery of vaginal. That's my main reason for wanting a VBAC. I don't, however, think it's "wrong" for you to schedule a date. Your body, your baby. Good luck!

I was induced because my husband was deploying to Iraq. They changed his deployment date 6 or 7 times, and I was induced on that Wed. evening/early Thursday morning, had my son via C-section Friday afternoon, and DH left at like 3AM monday morning...it was a crazy weekend. We kept trying everything to get DS to come early -- I wanted my husband to at least get to MEET our child before he left, just...incase....you know....at least then they got to meet. It was hard, I would never do it again. Thank God he's not in cycle for deployment this time around

The "medical" reason my doctor told me was pre-e.....he wrote it off as that, my BP was through the roof and I was retaining water, everywhere....

There isn't anything wrong with it... and just because you go into labor doesn't mean its the babys time.... a lot of moms go into preterm labor all the time when the baby isn't ready! ;o) good luck

With my son (which is my first an only until now) I went into labor 8 weeks early, they were able to stop it after 3 days in the hospital but 2 weeks later at 34 weeks he was coming an there was no stoping him... The plan was to deliver vaginally but at my doctors apt the week prior I tried telling him that the baby was breach because I could feel him kicking my cervix... with just a simple feel of my stomach he dismissed my concerns and told me the baby was in the right position and not to worry... Well, come "D day" sure enough he was partial Frank... He coded 2 times before they moved him 14 miles away to a NICU and I didn't see him for the first 3 days of his life... it was horrible!!!!
That would be the reason I am really wanting to do a VBAC, an my doctor seems to think I will be a great candidate so providing this baby isn't over 8lbs 13oz it's a green light... My only concerns are all this talk of rupture

Thank you so much for your response!!! I read it to my husband this morning and it seemed to put him at ease. I have also done a fair amount of research and have found that my thoughts and concerns are very much so supported in terms of "why have such a serious operation if there is no medical reason" and in my case, with my son being 8 years old when my little girl is due... there really is not a medical reason for me to not deliver her naturally at this point.

First off if you haven't spoken to your OB about attempting a VBAC, that is the first thing you should do.

I was a prime candidate for a VBAC with my second delivery but due to malpractice insurance laws in my state, there wasn't an OB that would let me attempt one. I didn't have a choice in the matter. My baby had to be born one way or the other and I only had one way.

It was really hard for me to pick a day that she was born for the simple reason that you stated. You aren't supposed to know the exact time that your baby will be born, but when it is a scheduled c-section you do. It was really hard for me to wrap my mind around it and since I knew the exact date and time she was going to be born, my anxiety was a little higher.

I say if you can attempt a VBAC, go for it but keep in the back of your mind that it might end up a c-section again. Personally for me, I would much rather not labor all day and then end up having a c-section.

I really don't have a choice since this is my thrid one and the same malpractice laws are in place in my state.

Go with what you feel is best. You are the one who must live with your decision.

I, too, am going to be a repeat c-section. With my first, I was induced because my son was already measuring large. After 20 hours we had to do a c-section. I also had some problems with my incision and I don't want to risk a retearing of the area during a natural delivery (or going through 20 hours of labor and having a c-section anyways).

Generally, you are right. Labor occurs when baby and body are both ready for the birth. However, things don't always work as they should, and with a Vbac there are extra risks, especially if the baby becomes post term. In your case, I may just schedule an induction before the due date, or schedule a c-section on or after your due date. Induction does carry risks for vbac, so you need to discuss with your ob and your partner what will be best for you and baby.
As for the issue of choosing baby's birthday, as long as you are not choosing a date that is too early to be realy safe I wouldn't worry too much. My sister scheduled her son's c-section for the day before my BILs birthday so he would have his own day, this was only 5 days before the original due date and he was quite large enough as it was.

I've never heard of cord issues starting at 37 weeks...maybe 41 weeks , but even then it's not common. Because due dates are estimates, you could think you're 40 weeks, but if you ovulated late then you might only be 38 weeks or even earlier. Some babies really aren't ready at that point and you could end up inducing or C-Sectioning a baby who really is not ready for it.

I don't know about a C-Section relieving stress...it's major abdominal surgery with a much longer recovery period than a vaginal birth. I'm all for C-Sections that save lives and are medically necessary (an emergency one saved my and my twins lives), but to have one to fit with your schedule with no "true" medical necessity is hard for me to swallow. Just because you had one or even two prior sections isn't a medical necessity by itself...even a breach baby isn't necessarily a medical necessity--although one previous poster here had a very bad experience with her baby being born breach, a lot of babies do well as long as you have a doctor/midwife who is experienced at delivering breach babies vaginally.

In any case, I would do anything to avoid another C-Section...recovery was nasty and I had major difficulties breastfeeding (due to many issues, but definitely having a C-Section under general anesthesia and losing tons of blood had a big part in it).